Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An outstanding Burma campaign M.C. group of seven awarded to Jemadar Shandi Gul, 50th Parachute Brigade

Military Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1945’; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (7136 Sep. Shandi Gul, 2-12 F.F.R.); India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1937-39 (7136 Sep. Shandi Gul, 2-12 F.F.R.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; India Service Medal; War Medal, nearly very fine and better (7) £1,200-£1,400

Provenance: Richard B. Magor Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, July 2003.

M.C. London Gazette 27 July 1944: ‘For gallant and distinguished services in Burma.’

The recommendation states: ‘Jemadar Shandi Gul, 50th Parachute Brigade, M.M.G. Section, 23rd Indian Division.
Jemadar Shandi Gul was in command of a section of Vickers Machine-guns at Sangshak on the night of 25/26th March 1944. He engaged the enemy throughout the night inflicting many casualties on the advancing Japanese. Just after dawn broke the position was surrounded, but Jemadar Shandi Gul kept on firing on all round traverse until the guns were rendered useless, either by shrapnel or bullets, and the crews wounded or killed. He then fought his way out, with the remaining members of his section, by grappling with a Japanese, wrenching his rifle and bayonet from him, and killing him. By this action of courage and initiative his section was able to retire to another position. Jemadar Shandi Gul was consistently cool and gallant throughout the operation and eventually, on retiring from Sangshak brought the remainder of his platoon with him.’

Withdrawn